BOGUS BOTHER
BOGUS BARNSLEY DRIVER FINED £200
Magistrates in Barns- ley have ordered a bogus taxi driver to pay out more than £600 after he was found car- rying passengers with- out a valid licence. Stephen Falkingham, 51, admitted driving an unlicensed PHV, not having a private hire driver’s licence, oper- ating as a private hire operator without the requisite licence and also driving without valid insurance. Following complaints from private hire com- panies in Penistone, enforcement staff from Barnsley Council car- ried out an operation in September last year to target illegal vehi- cles and drivers.
Officers booked Falk- ingham for a journey, he was then confront- ed by the council officers and admitted to working illegally. At the magistrates’ court Falkingham was fined £200 and had his driving licence en- dorsed with eight points. In addition, he was ordered to pay costs of £400 and a vic- tim surcharge of £15. Cllr Charles Wraith, chairman of Barnsley Council’s regulatory licensing board, told the Yorkshhire Post: “The court has sent a strong message to people who think they are above the law and seek to put the safety of passengers at risk.
PAGE 22
NELSON PENSIONER FINED FOR ACTING AS TAXI DRIVER
A pensioner has been prosecuted by Pendle Council for operating as a taxi driver with- out insurance or appropriate licences. At the Magistrates’ Court Harry Preston, from Nelson, was fined £100 for driving without insurance, and ordered to pay £150 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
He also had eight penalty points en- dorsed on his licence, but was not disquali- fied from driving. The court was told Mr Preston had accepted a booking without holding a private hire operator’s licence, vehicle licence or dri- ver’s licence. He had
also not undertaken a criminal record check, a medical check, and his vehicle had not been mechanically tested. Cllr Pauline McCor- mick, chairman of Pendle Council’s taxi licensing committee, told the Nelson Lea- der: “Mr Preston’s actions are unfair on legitimate operators, who pay licence fees, medical fees and expensive insurance. “However, my main concern is with his customers and road users, whose safety he has seriously com- promised.
“I hope this will serve as a lesson to others who think they can
WANTED EXECUTIVE CHAUFFEURS, FLEETS, PRIVATE HIRE & HACKNEY CARRIAGE DRIVERS
WE GUARANTEE Competitive Rates Nationwide for 12 Month Policies
Access to a Large Panel of Taxi Specialist Insurers
Quotes on All Types of Cover Flexible Payment Options Drivers Under 25 years Welcome/New Ventures
Exclusive Scheme Currently Available for CB, PE, IP & NR Post Codes (EAST ANGLIA)
CALL
ELSTREE INSURANCE SERVICES NOW
0844 815 0096 FSA
®
defy taxi licensing laws. You will be pros- ecuted.”
In mitigation, the court was told Mr Preston had no previous con- victions and his wife was disabled.
FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE ON:
Elstree Insurance Services is authorised and regulated by The Financial Services Authority. All Calls are Recorded.
The magistrates took into account Mr Pre- ston’s previous good character and the exceptional hardship that would be caused to his wife if he lost his licence.
STAFFS MOORLANDS ‘ROGUE’ TAXIS INVESTIGATED
Complaints about unli- censed private hire cars operating in the Staffordshire Moor- lands have been investigated by district council officials. The Leek Post reports that enforcement offi- cers from Staf- fordshire Moorlands
District Council have also looked into reports Leek taxi rank has been used illegally by private hire vehic- less.
Members were told at a district council meet- ing that a number of complaints were checked out by mem-
bers of staff.
These included reports of a ‘rogue’ driver operating in Cheadle. Passengers have been urged to check the credentials of private hire and hackney car- riage drivers before getting into cabs.
LONDON TAXI DRIVER WITH NO ENGLISH AFTER 20 YEARS
A bogus taxi driver who had not learned English despite living in Britain for 20 years was criticised by a judge last month. Bangladeshi-born Zamal Uddin, 44, had been found guilty of grabbing a passen- ger’s breasts after she got into his unlicensed cab in Hoxton, east London.
According to the Daily Telegraph, he faces a jail sentence and deportation for twice assaulting the 26-year-
old. Uddin, who arrived here in 1992, had to follow his case with the help of an interpreter, and Judge Timothy King said: “These are serious matters and custody appears to be appro- priate in this case. “Also what troubles me, though it’s not something that bears on sentence, [is that] he has been here for nigh on 20 years and he requires an inter- preter. I suspect he lives within his own
community and has never bothered to learn English.’’ Following the attack on October 23 last year in Hoxton Square, Uddin was caught illegally touting for fares in nearby Kingsland Road, Dal- ston, the next day. Uddin, of Bethnal Green, east London, admitted two charges of sexual assault and driving while disquali- fied. He was remanded in custody to await sentence.
PHTM MARCH 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
